Follow UsEngland’s succession plan in Test cricket has come under the scanner, as Ollie Pope hasn’t been too inspiring in the fifth Test at The Oval. Under Pope’s captaincy, England have won three out of their four games, but come the biggest test against India, his side were left reeling, on the back of his batting display.
It has now led to more questions over Pope’s position as the next-generation leader. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan also insisted that England should make Harry Brook their next red-ball skipper, as he will carry Ben Stokes’ legacy far better than Pope.
“Harry Brook, to me, looks like a leader. He looks like a born leader,” Vaughan told the Test Match Special podcast.
“If Ben Stokes is injured in the future can’t Pope stay as vice-captain and Harry Brook gets the leadership role? I look at someone like Ollie Pope, who looks a fantastic vice-captain. He is a brilliant person to have next to the captain to come up with ideas. Sometimes vice-captains aren’t brilliant captains,” added Vaughan.
Citing Marcus Trescothick’s example, Vaughan reckoned that the former England opener was a ‘terrific vice-captain’ but not necessarily the best captaincy option.
“Marcus Trescothick was a magnificent vice-captain for me but you wouldn’t want to give him the captaincy.”
During the fifth Test, Pope was spotted far too many times in the England dressing room during overs, possibly getting ‘tactical inputs’ from coach Brendon McCullum. Vaughan added that Brook would be the ‘best captain’ to lead this English side, given his natural aggressiveness.
“It is not Ollie Pope’s fault England are in this position. It is the dropped catches. There were a couple of times he nipped off the field. It might have been for a comfort break, but it looked like he was going off for tactical advice. I don’t know well enough and am not in the dressing room. I just want the best captain who is the best leader leading the England side. I don’t think a good vice-captain will necessarily be a good captain,” said Vaughan.